News update: Former police chief Stamper backs out of Hempfest

Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper will not be speaking at Hempfest, as previously advertised by event promoters.

Stamper called P-I reporter Casey McNerthney to discuss Hempfest and said he is on deadline to finish his second book, on a subject that he hasn’t yet disclosed, and would be backing out of his appearance at Hempfest.

Casey reports:

In June 2005, Stamper, an Orcas Island resident, released “Breaking Rank: A Top Cop’s Street Smart Approach to Making America a Safe Place — For Everyone.” The memoir and study of modern policing tackled the war on drugs among other topics.

“I apologized to (Hempfest director) Vivian (McPeak) because I have so much left to finish,” said Stamper, who spoke at last years event. But he still supports Hempfest and said travel author Rick Steves “has a speech all public officials in Seattle and all public officials across the country should hear.”

Steves’ speech is expected to contrast drug policy in the U.S. and the European Union.

“The European plan is not to wage a ‘war on drugs,’ but to welcome serious discussion beyond the ‘zero tolerance’ and ‘three strikes and you’re out’ rhetoric so politically convient in the USA,” Steves said in a statement.